Relationships
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Surprise! : Author Interview with Zaheera Jina
(This is first in part of a new series on the blog called ‘Author Interview’ where I speak with authors of children’s books – books that reflect upon Muslim values, fosters family relations, talk against racism, inclusivity of all racial/ethnic groups and overall gives a positive message to our young children This post contains Amazon affiliate links) I was recently given the opportunity to read an exciting new children’s book called ‘Surprise!’ (Affiliate link) which revolves around a small family and their close relations with each other. I have been honoured to conduct an interview with the author of the book, Zaheera Jina. Without further delay, here is the exclusive interview conducted…
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Letters to my girl
Hello little girl. You turn 10 months today. A milestone for you. A bigger one for me. Just last week we visited Bangalore, the same place where I spent 5 years of my life doing my graduation. I never thought I would visit the place again when I left it in 2012 , that too with you and your dad. How fast life changes?! You were a perfect sweetheart throughout the 3 days whirlwind journey. No tantrums. No crankiness. I am blessed to have you my girl. Rather, it’s my honour to be your mother. Everyone said me motherhood is tough and demanding. But then, you make it easy for…
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An ode to my daughter.
01/08/2015 16:55 I heard your first cry. ‘Everything is fine! ‘ Traumatic ordeal – forgotten. Alhamdulilah Months of waiting and praying In my hands finally. So tiny. So precious. Alhamdulilah Your birth taught me the strength of my body, the resilience of my mind, the power of prayers. Alhamdulilah Two strangers united in love and faith to bring forth the perfect miracle of Allah. Alhamdulilah Words do no justice to the multitude of emotions. Photographs donot capture the essence of my feelings. Alhamdulilah Your name is a reminder to me to praise The One who blessed me with You. Alhamdulilah https://instagram.com/p/7suwNJvx0TNfyhPYJA-nPHuVCoyG145icHOps0/
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Strangers in our life
Excitement and anxiousness creeping in, I went with my better half for a blood test to know if I am pregnant or not only to be told by the lab technician, ‘The tests can be done today, but you will receive the results only tomorrow!’ 24 hours is too frustratingly long to know a simple yes or no. The next day I called up the hospital to know the result via phone only to be told the test results can not be revealed over the phone. I coaxed, cajoled and pleaded with the receptionist to let me know the result. In a soft voice she says, “M’am, I am not…
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Curtains down, 2014.
2014. I have so much to write and express about this year yet words fail me when I am deeply emotional. “There are years that ask questions and years that answer” – Zora Neale Hurston. Definitely this has been a year of answers. Alhamdulilah. I wrote this on Jan 1, 2014. It’s wonderful to look back at your old posts and realize you have everything you wanted back then. 2 out of these Three wishes have been granted. Alhamdulilah. Yet, Scotland Dreams did not materialize. But then, that is how life is. We achieve some dreams, we fail in some of our goals and sometimes we lost track of some…
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The sound of “M”
Out of the blue, my affairs are being set alright. The professional life I so dearly wanted. The personal life I have yearned for, for so long. Everything is just turning out as the way I want it. Alhamdulilah I know, there is someone praying for me, early morning or late night. Near me or across the oceans, I know her duas are there for me. Maybe, all my achievements are due to her sincere plea to God. I wouldn’t be here if not for her. Mother. A dua from a person under whose feet lies Jannah is never unheard by the Lord. Alhamdulilah for mother’s duas. Alhamdulilah for mothers.…
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Writing 101 – Unlock the mind
The past weekend was a challenging one and it ended up with me being dissolved in a fit of tears in my man’s hands. Some time life overwhelms you so much that you cannot bear to move forward any longer… and yet you want to push ahead of all the adversities for the person in front of you. Do we cease becoming a daughter to our parents the minute we get married? Or is it just my overactive-crazy-hormone filled imaginative mind making it’s weird stories? Or are we a “child” to our parents forever? My head is constantly filled with a thousand questions, doubts and ‘what-if’ scenarios! I have a new venture…
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Beautiful Beginnings
Hello ! Do people read me here anymore? The April A to Z Challenge bought in many new readers for my blog yet ironically I have been missing in action on my blog since then ! Over the course of past few months my life changed completely. Alhamdulilah. I met, fell in love and got married to a wonderful man. As I go through the first few steps of my married life, I cannot help but wonder how immensely blessed I am. To have a family I was heartbroken to leave, yet, to be blessed with another family who openly and wholeheartedly welcomed me into their midst. Alhamdulilah. It’s not…
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Inspiration around
My mother’s prayers and kindness inspires me. My father’s hardworking nature inspires me. My sister’s perfectionism inspires me. My brother’s drive for knowledge inspires me. My little brother’s selfless nature inspires me. My friend’s faith in love even after being cheated terribly inspires me. My teacher’s strength in fighting her personal adversities inspire me. My aunt’s strong sense of faith even after losing her twins inspire me. My cousin who conveys her emotions through actions, not words inspire me. My professor’s belief in my abilities inspire me. My neighbour’s helping nature inspires me. My colleague’s passion for dentistry inspires me. Search for stories of inspiration not only in famous celebrities…
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Demon-tia
‘Mom, I am back home,’ screamed Sarah from the front door. Her mom replied back in a puzzled and frightened tone, ‘ Who are you? Why is there a stranger in my house?’ ‘Oh mom, not today, I am really tired and I cannot bear this drama now,’ came the hurt retort. Sarah went back to her room and sprawled herself on to the bed. Feeling dejected and exhausted from this daily ordeal. Her eyes went to the self-made poster of reminder on her wall. It read – Your mother’s dementia makes her forget who you are but you cannot let that make you forget who she is to you. She smiled,…
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Silence of my home
Growing up, my house did not know the meaning of silence. 2 studious girls who did their daily lessons by reading loudly. 2 hyperactive boys who always had to play football or watch cartoon. Not to forget, the cat and dog fights for everything from the TV remote to the Nutella bottle. However hard my mom tried, it was dearly impossible to wind up for the day before 11 PM. There was one or the other chatter – Crying sessions because the home work assignment was not completed (this was usually me!) or screaming at the other for breaking a favourite toy (usually the boys) or being on the telephone…
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Perspective of a parent
After visiting an elderly relative of mine yesterday, I was quite disturbed on seeing him, sitting all alone in the front porch. His three children stay abroad. Wife was at the hospital. He has a male servant who helps him out. Otherwise, it is him, the big house and silence. In the eastern countries, filial responsibility is entrenched in the minds of people. We rarely send our parents to old age homes or put them under the care of someone who is not family. When we come across such a situation, the first thought is ‘The children donot care for their parents. How selfish of them!’ Maybe, we are wrong…
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Sharing their laughter
As her breakfast was turning cold, she was frantically searching for her dentures. Holding a newspaper, he screamed out from the living room, “Have you seen my glasses?”. Quietly assessing their situation he gives out a loud chuckle only to be met by a quizzical and angry look from his wife. “We just became two of the Three (Gandhi’s) Monkeys “, he explained his laughter. Humour was the powerful ingredient that kept their love strong, for the past 55 years. (This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda – Write an entry having only 5 sentences, with the theme, Love) Edit : This post…
